Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main St., announces a new exhibit, “Somos hijos de Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin; Los Manteles de mi Abuela,” which translated to English is “We Are Children of Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin; My Grandmother’s Tablecloths.”
Source: City of Las Cruces (Photo: Courtesy)
The exhibit will be on public display from Friday, April 5, 2024, to Saturday, June 22, 2024. An opening reception will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2024.
The exhibit features Borderland artist Roberto Salas’ artwork that considers his mestizo heritage through depictions of “sahumerios” (incense burners) on decorative oilcloth tablecloths. In this exhibit, Salas considers how traditions, cultures, and history are reflected in the common materials we find around us.
Using decorative oilcloth tablecloths as his canvas, Salas paints “sahumerios” in ways that honor and evoke his family’s Hispanic and indigenous Mexican heritage. In Mesoamerican culture, incense burners were a means of communicating with ancestors and opening oneself to divine inspiration. By presenting sahumerios on contemporary oilcloth tablecloths, Salas mixes the historic and contemporary aspects of his heritage.
Roberto Salas is a multidisciplinary visual artist and musician whose work addresses a wide breadth of traditional and experimental approaches. His artistic vision is influenced by his mestizo heritage, passion for global travel, and study of diverse art and culture.
His works include large-scale public art pieces, multi/cross cultural musical performances, and community projects involving inner city and underrepresented youth. Salas earned his Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego and spends his time in El Paso and San Diego.
Branigan Cultural Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission charge. Branigan Cultural Center is accessible from RoadRUNNER Transit, Route 1, Stop 1.
